The Tetramorph Cross is a unique design incorporating four creatures, each symbolizing one of the four Gospels of the New Testament. The Canterbury Cross features four arms of equal length, each widening into a triangular point — a design tied directly to the mother church of the Anglican Communion. Ancient civilizations across the world used cross-like shapes long before the crucifixion, each attaching its own unique meaning and significance to the form. This guide walks through 43 types of crosses and their meanings — their shapes, origins, and the denominations that hold them dear.

Latin Cross

Others believe that the patriarchal cross represents Jesus’ death and resurrection. The three bars are said to signify the Holy Trinity, the three roles of the Pope, and the three theological virtues. The additional beam signifies the Pope’s higher ecclesiastical rank compared to an archbishop.
The Sun Cross, or Solar Cross, features an equal-armed cross enclosed within a circle, historically tied to solar calendars and the changing seasons. The Mariner’s Cross, also called the Anchor Cross, takes the shape of a ship’s anchor and signifies hope and steadfastness. Also called the Fylfot Cross, the swastika is an ancient symbol that predates Christianity and has appeared across many cultures worldwide. The Cross Fleury is a stylized cross bordered with lily-like flourishes at each end, signifying purity and innocence. The Papal Cross features three horizontal bars of decreasing width and serves as the official insignia of papal authority during liturgical functions.

• Others believe that the patriarchal cross represents Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• This first cross may have then influenced all subsequent types of crosses.
• The Bottoni Cross was a common symbol used in insignias, coat-of-arms and other forms of heraldry.
• Wes Chatham and Matthew Lillard were also added to the cast for the second season.
• The Sun Cross, or Solar Cross, features an equal-armed cross enclosed within a circle, historically tied to solar calendars and the changing seasons.
• An early example of the cruciform halo, used to identify Christ in paintings, is found in the Miracles of the Loaves and Fishes mosaic of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna (6th century).

History

There are 43 types of crosses, each carrying its own distinct meaning — from the Latin Cross, which represents Christ’s crucifixion, to the Celtic Cross, which symbolizes eternity, and the Jerusalem Cross, which marks the Holy Land itself. Below, we break down all 43 types of crosses and their meanings by category, shape, and history. Cross symbolism continues to be highly significant to religious and secular groups and can be found everywhere. It’s a cross fleury, i.e., a cross with a flowery design, often used in heraldry. This cross design was derived using four uppercase Gamma letters from the Greek alphabet.

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This guide documents 43 distinct, well-recognized types of crosses, each with its own shape, history, and religious meaning. From the universally recognized Latin Cross to the intricate patterns of the Celtic Cross and the specific insignias of military and Catholic orders, each design carries its own story within religious tradition and artistic expression. The cross features four equidistant arms, each ending in a wide three-pointed design. Speculation of this kind became especially popular in the mid- to late-19th century in the context of comparative mythology seeking to tie Christian mythology to ancient cosmological myths. 1200, first in the sense “to make the sign of the cross”; the generic meaning “to intersect” develops in the 15th century.
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Types of Crosses by Category

The Ethiopian Cross features intricate, lace-like latticework, with designs unique to each region and church within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The Bottony Cross, also called the Cross Bottony or Cross Botonée, features a trefoil design at the end of each arm, resembling a bud or button. It’s called a cross loosely, since its shape departs entirely from traditional cross designs. Also called the Scandinavian Cross, the Nordic Cross is defined by its off-center design, with the horizontal bar shifted closer to the hoist (left side) of the flag. The Botonee Cross, also known as the Budded Cross, features trefoils or buds at the end of each arm — a design meant to symbolize the Holy Trinity.

• The additional beam signifies the Pope’s higher ecclesiastical rank compared to an archbishop.
• The Cross of St. James is also used in heraldry, where it’s also called the Santiago cross or the cruz espada (in English, the sword cross).
• The shape of the cross (crux, stauros “stake, gibbet”), as represented by the Latin letter T, came to be used as a new symbol (seal) or emblem of Christianity since the 2nd century AD to succeeding Ichthys in aftermaths of that new religion’s separation from Judaism.
• This cross design was derived using four uppercase Gamma letters from the Greek alphabet.
• The Tetramorph Cross is a unique design incorporating four creatures, each symbolizing one of the four Gospels of the New Testament.
• In his book De Corona, written in 204, Tertullian tells how it was already a tradition for Christians to trace repeatedly on their foreheads the sign of the cross.
• The multiplication sign (×), often attributed to William Oughtred (who first used it in an appendix to the 1618 edition of John Napier’s Descriptio) apparently had been in occasional use since the mid 16th century.

It’s also believed to symbolize eternal life, life after death, and the divine right to rule. Unlike many of the crosses on this list, the Ankh is directly connected to ancient Egypt rather than to Christianity. It’s one of the most beloved and popular types of the Christian cross. It’s similar to the Patriarchal cross, but it’s typically featured with the lower crossbeam set further down the vertical post. The symbol held sacred meaning for Pythagoreans, who took their vows on it. More recently, the Maltese cross has been given a secular meaning, representing the 8 characteristics of a good first aider.

The Celtic cross continues to be a popular variant of Christian crosses. The Celtic cross features a cross within a circle, with the bottom arm extending below the circle. Today, the forked cross is not as popular as it once was and isn’t commonly seen in Christian iconography. The forked cross was especially popular during the Middle Ages when there was a strong focus on the Passion of Christ. The Jerusalem cross was significant during the Crusades and was carried as a heraldic cross.
The Celtic Cross is defined by the ring connecting its arms, blending ancient Celtic symbolism of eternity with Christian faith — a visual cousin to symbols like the Tree of Life, which carries similar ideas of unending continuity. The cross is the defining icon of Christianity, yet it appears in dozens of styles across cultures and denominations, each rich with historical and spiritual significance. Below you’ll find the shape, history, and spiritual meaning behind every major type of cross and their meanings, a quick-reference comparison table, and answers to the most common questions people ask about Christian crosses. The above cross variations are among the most popular, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. The Bottoni Cross was a common symbol used in insignias, coat-of-arms and other forms of heraldry. Novgorod was considered an independent state that went unconquered until the 15th century.
This first cross may have then influenced all subsequent types of crosses. However, the cross symbol has existed for thousands of years, with the oldest religious symbol believed to be the solar cross. The second season has a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 19 critic reviews. Kelly Lawler of USA Today awarded the season two out of four stars, criticizing its pacing and plotting. He praised Aldis Hodge’s “charismatic performance” but noted that the series’ “lack of story propulsion” makes it more suitable for binge-watching than episodic viewing.
The Cross of St. James is also used in heraldry, where it’s also called the Santiago cross or the cruz espada (in English, the sword cross). This cross features double crossbeams at the top and one slanted crossbeam at the bottom. The first use of the flag was in the national flag of Denmark in the 13th century.
The series was filmed in Ontario, Canada, in Hamilton, Toronto, and surrounding areas. Along with Watkins, the series’ executive producers included Craig Siebels, Nzingha Stewart, James Patterson, Sam Ernst, Jim Dunn, Bill Robinson, Patrick Santa, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell. Cross is an American crime thriller television series created by Ben Watkins, based on the Alex Cross novel series written by James Patterson.